Health care provider groups — representatives of America’s doctors, hospitals, and other caregivers — have generally been critical of the Republican American Health Care Act, but in a fairly restrained way. Bob Doherty, senior vice president for government affairs at the American College of Physicians, the trade group for internists and the second-largest association of doctors in America, is taking a different approach on Twitter this morning, blasting the bill as the worst measure he’s seen in nearly 40 years of advocacy work.
Doherty warns of “thousands of preventable deaths” if the bill passes (which checks out), as 28 million people lose coverage. He also makes the point that the long-term health consequences of the bill could be even more severe, as older people who lose insurance coverage due to skyrocketing premiums “will put off getting care until diseases are at more advanced, less treatable, & costly stage.”
In 38 years advocating for doctors, patients I've never seen a bill that will do more harm to health than #AHCA bill being voted on Thursday
— Bob Doherty (@BobDohertyACP) March 20, 2017
It will take coverage from millions of most vulnerable: the poor,sick & old. It will raise premiums & deductibles by thousands of $.
— Bob Doherty (@BobDohertyACP) March 20, 2017
It will make the opioid epidemic worse by ending requirement that Medicaid cover substance use treatment.
— Bob Doherty (@BobDohertyACP) March 20, 2017
It cuts Medicaid funding by 25%; states will have no choice but to cut coverage & benefits and/or raise taxes, cut provider pay.
— Bob Doherty (@BobDohertyACP) March 20, 2017
It cuts funding to @CDC to prevent spread of infectious diseases like flu and Zika.
— Bob Doherty (@BobDohertyACP) March 20, 2017
Proposed work requirement for Medicaid punishes those who can't work because they are sick, have mental health conditions, are caregivers
— Bob Doherty (@BobDohertyACP) March 20, 2017
Or because there are no jobs.
— Bob Doherty (@BobDohertyACP) March 20, 2017
It will result in 14 million losing coverage next year, 28 million over 10 years.
— Bob Doherty (@BobDohertyACP) March 20, 2017
It will cause people to forgo doctor visits, and prevention /screening tests and not keep up with medications.
— Bob Doherty (@BobDohertyACP) March 20, 2017
They will put off getting care until diseases are at more advanced, less treatable & more costly stage.
— Bob Doherty (@BobDohertyACP) March 20, 2017
Lives are at stake: loss of coverage associated with thousands of preventable deaths.
— Bob Doherty (@BobDohertyACP) March 20, 2017
This bill has to be stopped. Call Congress today. 2022243121. Urge them to vote against #AHCA. Don't wait. Vote is on Thursday.
— Bob Doherty (@BobDohertyACP) March 20, 2017
Polling on the Republican health bill appears to be disastrously bad, with Nate Silver saying it’s “hard to understate” the public’s level of support for the legislation. With key interest group players ranging from unenthusiastic to hostile, and the bill clearly short of the 50 votes it would need to pass the Senate, conventional thinking about legislating would urge the House Republican leadership to slow down and come up with something they can build more consensus around.
The plan, however, is to do just the opposite and attempt to rush through a do-or-die vote this week, in the hopes of basically tossing the hot potato to the Senate and letting them figure it out.
